Please delay the game. Lessons from Halo 5 launch.

Games Halo Infinite
1

343, should you choose to release Halo Infinite in Holiday 2021 with key missing features (campaign co-op, Forge, and more?), you will very likely face a repeat of Halo 5’s launch.

In other words, gamers will play Infinite for what little launch content it has, become bored with the game quicker than previous Halo titles due to a smaller variety of content available at launch, leave and may never come back. This helps explain Halo 5’s decreasing player count post-launch.

The lack of Forge and user generated maps and modes for Infinite at launch, with Joseph Staten claiming in the August Development Update that its release is not planned until Season 3, which Joseph Staten claims to be at least 6 months after launch, is an even worse situation than Halo 5, since the release of Forge was only 2 months after Halo 5’s launch, compared with at least 6 months for Infinite.

In the modern gaming world, gamers have more choices than ever before as to where they spend their time (and money). With the release of Call of Duty Vanguard, Battlefield 2042 in addition to the large variety of existing games with healthy population counts and new content drops (Splitgate, Fortnite, Valorant etc.), the limited content Halo Infinite has to offer at launch may push gamers to return to these other titles after quickly burning through yet another Halo game with less content than Halo Reach at launch, which released in 2010. That means gamers spending less time (and money) on Halo Infinite’s paid content such as the battle pass and more time spent on other titles outside of Halo.

To launch Halo Infinite in Holiday 2021 with no campaign co-op, no forge and potentially more missing content compared to Halo Reach’s launch, in a gaming landscape with more highly talented developers than ever competing for the attention (and money) of gamers is to learn very little from the launch of Halo 5. After 343 released their August Development Update, “Halo 5” is now trending on Twitter with posts complaining about the similar nature of Halo Infinite’s launch to Halo 5’s, and the lack of lessons learned from it.

Please delay Halo Infinite to Spring 2022. That way, the development team is able to include the content that is expected from a Halo game at launch (at least that of Halo Reach). By delaying the game to Spring 2022, gamers will spend more time in a larger game, with user generated forge content keeping them in the Halo ecosystem for longer, leading them to spend more on paid content than they would otherwise.

Make the right decision 343. Delay the game to Spring 2022.

In 2010, Halo Reach launched with:

  • Campaign with co-op and splitscreen - Multiplayer with splitscreen - Forge - Firefight - Theater - for campaign and multiplayer - All staple Halo gamemodes (Slayer, Big Team Battle, CTF, Oddball, King of the Hill, Infection etc.)In comparison, Halo 5 launched in 2015 with the least amount of content at launch for any Halo game ever:

  • No splitscreen - No forge at launch - No firefight (Warzone Firefight was added post-launch) - No Big Team Battle at launch (later added support but no developer made maps) - Theater mode (that still has severe game bugs in 2021) - no campaign theater support - Missing staple Halo game modes (Oddball for example wasn’t added until 6 months+ after launch)“A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad” - Shigeru Miyamoto

2

People wonder why game company’s continue to release unfinished games. You can thank the other people on this Forum.
For me Delay and polishing is what game companies should be doing more. But again guess I am wrong and let it just happen!

3

Unfortunately, this is the new norm, especially for live service gaming. They know it’s not the right thing to do but they know they can get away with it in the end. They wouldn’t delay it again as that would clash with holiday sales and Lord Microsoft won’t be havin none of that.

4

A delay wont happen for a few reasons.

1: This isnt a polish issue, this is a feature issue, features that not everyone will use. That does not mean they are unimportant by any means but in the context of the necessities forge and coop are less so. If this was a polish issue I would expect a delay as they directly impacts the entire packages perception. Aka a lack of polish would make campaign and multipler look bad.

2: MS wants as many GOTY contendors for 2021 as possible. Its the beginning of the new generation and Sony realistically only has 2 contenders or, 2 obvious contenders (returnal and Ratchet). MS is going to want as many games as they can on that list and currently, those look to be psychonauts 2 (which is cross platform), forza (which is a racing game so is almost always omitted) and Halo.

They have to weigh the risk rewards of keeping Halo in 2021 and or delaying it. Realistically, the risks to Halo if its not delayed are not that major as long as the multipler and the single player itself are good experiances. (this is where H5 failed so the lack of forge and splitscreen became even more apparent). If infinites core multiplayer suite (modes) and the campaign are great, the lack of said features will have less of an impact.

Missing co-op and forge are 100% a big deal, but we also exist in a reality where Sea of Thieves and No Man Sky are extremely successful. If the core experiances are good, MS is willing to bank on player openess to delayed features if it means they get more potential to win GOTY in 2021. Doing so sets them on the pace they need and their marketing plans for GP in 2022. There is more to gain if MS gets GOTY. Realistically, even without co-op and forge, as long as the multiplayer has plenty of modes (social and ranked) and the campaign is considered good or great, they have that chance. This does not mean I am saying they will be good.

Realistically, because of wants on the line for MS and the fact that this is not a polish/performance issue, a delay would be unlikely to happen.

5

The thing is, since it’s live service game, they think they can take the lazy option and fix / add stuff post launch…

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> 2535433953554314;3:
> they know they can get away with it in the end

343 tried launching the game with missing content compared to other Halo titles with Halo 5 - the player count dropped faster as a result.

> In the modern gaming world, gamers have more choices than ever before as to where they spend their time (and money). With the release of Call of Duty Vanguard, Battlefield 2042 in addition to the large variety of existing games with healthy population counts and new content drops (Splitgate, Fortnite, Valorant etc.), the limited content Halo Infinite has to offer at launch may push gamers to return to these other titles after quickly burning through yet another Halo game with less content than Halo Reach at launch, which released in 2010. That means gamers spending less time (and money) on Halo Infinite’s paid content such as the battle pass and more time spent on other titles outside of Halo.

7

i want 4 player splitscreen so bad. It was so fun like in the good old days. If there is no froge and then there is no custom games. I don’t think people relaze that, along with the side effect of coop.

8

> 2535464648186435;6:
> > 2535433953554314;3:
> > they know they can get away with it in the end
>
> 343 tried launching the game with missing content compared to other Halo titles with Halo 5 the player count dropped faster as a result.
>
>
> > In the modern gaming world, gamers have more choices than ever before as to where they spend their time (and money). With the release of Call of Duty Vanguard, Battlefield 2042 in addition to the large variety of existing games with healthy population counts and new content drops (Splitgate, Fortnite, Valorant etc.), the limited content Halo Infinite has to offer at launch may push gamers to return to these other titles after quickly burning through yet another Halo game with less content than Halo Reach at launch, which released in 2010. That means gamers spending less time (and money) on Halo Infinite’s paid content such as the battle pass and more time spent on other titles outside of Halo.

H5s player count dropped cause the campaign was disappointing and the core multiplayer suite lacked content and progression not because forge and splitscreen were not there. Those are all compoounding factors but the core reasons was because the multiplayer itself disappointed as did the campaign.

We have no idea how the core aspects will turn out for infinite yet

9

> 2533274813399302;7:
> i want 4 player splitscreen so bad. It was so fun like in the good old days. If there is no froge and then there is no custom games. I don’t think people relaze that, along with the side effect of coop.

right, cause custom games and their setting customization never existed before halo 3…

10

Yep, delay. Forge not being in at launch KILLED Halo 5 early on.

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> 2533274840624875;4:
> A delay wont happen for a few reasons.

How can you be so sure? There were posts online after the July 2020 campaign demo claiming it was impossible that 343 would delay Infinite’s release, then shortly after 343 announced a delay.

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> 2533274840624875;9:
> > 2533274813399302;7:
> > i want 4 player splitscreen so bad. It was so fun like in the good old days. If there is no froge and then there is no custom games. I don’t think people relaze that, along with the side effect of coop.
>
> right, cause custom games and their setting customization never existed before halo 3…

what ur point, i dont get why people are not at least a little concerned or frustrated by this.

13

> 2535464648186435;11:
> > 2533274840624875;4:
> > A delay wont happen for a few reasons.
>
> How can you be so sure? There were posts online after the July 2020 campaign demo claiming it was impossible that 343 would delay Infinite’s release, then shortly after 343 announced a delay.

that one was at least plausible given it was a polish issue and it wasnt year 1 of next gen consoles. No one could get a new console then and its still difficult now (though more and more people are getting them). This is the 1st GOTY that matters in the context of starting off next gen with a bang.

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> 2533274840624875;8:
> > 2535464648186435;6:
> > > 2535433953554314;3:
> > > they know they can get away with it in the end
> >
> > 343 tried launching the game with missing content compared to other Halo titles with Halo 5 the player count dropped faster as a result.
> >
> >
> > > In the modern gaming world, gamers have more choices than ever before as to where they spend their time (and money). With the release of Call of Duty Vanguard, Battlefield 2042 in addition to the large variety of existing games with healthy population counts and new content drops (Splitgate, Fortnite, Valorant etc.), the limited content Halo Infinite has to offer at launch may push gamers to return to these other titles after quickly burning through yet another Halo game with less content than Halo Reach at launch, which released in 2010. That means gamers spending less time (and money) on Halo Infinite’s paid content such as the battle pass and more time spent on other titles outside of Halo.
>
> H5s player count dropped cause the campaign was disappointing and the core multiplayer suite lacked content and progression not because forge and splitscreen were not there.

You say the player count dropped because the “core multiplayer suite lacked content”.

Custom game modes and forge maps as well as splitscreen multiplayer are part of the “core multiplayer suite”. They were at the launch of every Halo game since 2007, except Halo 5.

15

> 2533274813399302;12:
> > 2533274840624875;9:
> > > 2533274813399302;7:
> > > i want 4 player splitscreen so bad. It was so fun like in the good old days. If there is no froge and then there is no custom games. I don’t think people relaze that, along with the side effect of coop.
> >
> > right, cause custom games and their setting customization never existed before halo 3…
>
> what ur point, i dont get why people are not at least a little concerned or frustrated by this.

My point is that there will of course be custom games without forge. There just wont be forge maps/custom maps. You may be referring to file share but remember custom mode settings also go into fileshare so that still may be there.

The side effect of coop is that it wont have coop. It sucks, but I also dont play coop first and it coming within a 3 month time frame means I have another reason to jump back into the campaign at a later date.

Im frustrated by these features not being there as do many and there feelings are valid, but I at least think of the reasonings behind it and whether or not its that big of deal for myself.

16

> 2535464648186435;14:
> > 2533274840624875;8:
> > > 2535464648186435;6:
> > > > 2535433953554314;3:
> > > > they know they can get away with it in the end
> > >
> > > 343 tried launching the game with missing content compared to other Halo titles with Halo 5 the player count dropped faster as a result.
> > >
> > >
> > > > In the modern gaming world, gamers have more choices than ever before as to where they spend their time (and money). With the release of Call of Duty Vanguard, Battlefield 2042 in addition to the large variety of existing games with healthy population counts and new content drops (Splitgate, Fortnite, Valorant etc.), the limited content Halo Infinite has to offer at launch may push gamers to return to these other titles after quickly burning through yet another Halo game with less content than Halo Reach at launch, which released in 2010. That means gamers spending less time (and money) on Halo Infinite’s paid content such as the battle pass and more time spent on other titles outside of Halo.
> >
> > H5s player count dropped cause the campaign was disappointing and the core multiplayer suite lacked content and progression not because forge and splitscreen were not there.
>
> You say the player count dropped because the “core multiplayer suite lacked content”.
>
> Custom game modes and forge maps as well as splitscreen multiplayer are part of the “core multiplayer suite”. They were at the launch of every Halo game since 2007, except Halo 5.

forge isnt part of the core multiplayer suite. It didnt come in till H3. The core multiplayer suite is social and ranked and the modes within those areas. H5 lacked social entirely and only possessed ctf, slayer, (i think swat) and strongholds.

Forge is an addition to that system that then enhances the core suite.

17

> 2533274840624875;15:
> > 2533274813399302;12:
> > > 2533274840624875;9:
> > > > 2533274813399302;7:
> > > > i want 4 player splitscreen so bad. It was so fun like in the good old days. If there is no froge and then there is no custom games. I don’t think people relaze that, along with the side effect of coop.
> > >
> > > right, cause custom games and their setting customization never existed before halo 3…
> >
> > what ur point, i dont get why people are not at least a little concerned or frustrated by this.
>
> My point is that there will of course be custom games without forge. There just wont be forge maps/custom maps. You may be referring to file share but remember custom mode settings also go into fileshare so that still may be there.
>
> The side effect of coop is that it wont have coop. It sucks, but I also dont play coop first and it coming within a 3 month time frame means I have another reason to jump back into the campaign at a later date.
>
> Im frustrated by these features not being there as do many and there feelings are valid, but I at least think of the reasonings behind it and whether or not its that big of deal for myself.

Its not the end of the world, but I am tired of the status quo for getting unfinished products being worth 60 bucks,

18

> 2533274840624875;13:
> that one was at least plausible given it was a polish issue and it wasnt year 1 of next gen consoles. No one could get a new console then and its still difficult now (though more and more people are getting them). This is the 1st GOTY that matters in the context of starting off next gen with a bang.

On the contrary, a game “not looking as good” is less relevant than it missing key features
Features are also being considered when the GotY is determined, you know?
Halo 2 looked like -Yoink- with all the texture pop-in on the OG Xbox but it still had campaign splitscreen coop and it still won several GotY awards. In the same year that Half-Life 2 released, no less.

19

> 2533274840624875;16:
> > 2535464648186435;14:
> > > 2533274840624875;8:
> > > > 2535464648186435;6:
> > > > > 2535433953554314;3:
> > > > > they know they can get away with it in the end
> > > >
> > > > 343 tried launching the game with missing content compared to other Halo titles with Halo 5 the player count dropped faster as a result.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > In the modern gaming world, gamers have more choices than ever before as to where they spend their time (and money). With the release of Call of Duty Vanguard, Battlefield 2042 in addition to the large variety of existing games with healthy population counts and new content drops (Splitgate, Fortnite, Valorant etc.), the limited content Halo Infinite has to offer at launch may push gamers to return to these other titles after quickly burning through yet another Halo game with less content than Halo Reach at launch, which released in 2010. That means gamers spending less time (and money) on Halo Infinite’s paid content such as the battle pass and more time spent on other titles outside of Halo.
> > >
> > > H5s player count dropped cause the campaign was disappointing and the core multiplayer suite lacked content and progression not because forge and splitscreen were not there.
> >
> > You say the player count dropped because the “core multiplayer suite lacked content”.
> >
> > Custom game modes and forge maps as well as splitscreen multiplayer are part of the “core multiplayer suite”. They were at the launch of every Halo game since 2007, except Halo 5.
>
> forge isnt part of the core multiplayer suite. It didnt come in till H3. The core multiplayer suite is social and ranked and the modes within those areas. H5 lacked social entirely and only possessed ctf, slayer, (i think swat) and strongholds.
>
> Forge is an addition to that system that then enhances the core suite.

Yes it is. Forge is not an “addition”. It is a staple feature that was in every Halo game at launch since 2007 until Halo 5. Everyone plays Halo in different ways. The broad appeal Halo has to many gamers of different types is what made the series so big. Some people play only Big Team Battle and Forge custom maps, never ranked games. Those gamers were left with nothing at Halo 5’s launch.

20

its gonna be even worse, Halo 5 had atleast campaign and MP, Infinite will have only MP plus we do not know if big team battle will be at launch